Briefs: Newport News/norfolk

NEWPORT NEWS - A 35-year-old Denbigh man was arrested Monday on charges stemming from a recent party involving prostitution and illegal sales of alcohol, police said.

Troy Porter, of the 300 block of Deputy Lane, was charged with receiving money from earnings of prostitution, illegal sales of alcohol and maintaining a common nuisance.

Police said Porter earned money from a party in the 10700 block of Jefferson Avenue where sex was exchanged for money.

Four women were arrested on prostitution charges April 6, the same day the sex acts occurred, police said.

Days later, police obtained arrest warrants for seven men on prostitution-related charges. The other arrests are pending, police said.

After the arrest of the women, Porter said he had rented the space for a hip-hop music party.

Store owner guilty in gun, fake ID case

NORFOLK - The owner of a Newport News convenience store pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to having a stolen gun and using a false Social Security number.

Mohammed Samarah, owner of the Big Apple Food Market in Newport News, is free on bond while he awaits sentencing July 14 on the charges.

Members of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force arrested Samarah in February.

Apparently, Samarah of Chesapeake used the false Social Security number to get a fake driver's license because he had too many traffic tickets in New York City.

When he was arrested, agents seized a gun that had been stolen from an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Samarah, 41, said he had traded another gun for that one, which had more fire power.

The task force began investigating Samarah after they were told he had multiple identification cards.